Wednesday, Sep 29, 2010

Location:
Ken Sanders Rare Books

        Ken Sanders Rare Book is pleased to announce a reading and books signing with W.L. Rusho, Everett Ruess scholar and author of the new book The Mystery of Everett Ruess, on Wednesday, September 29th at 7:00 p.m. at our downtown bookstore (268 South 200 East). First edition copies of The Mystery of Everett Ruess ($16.99, Paperback, Gibbs Smith) will be available for purchase and signing at the event. This event is free and open to the public.
        In 1934, Everett Ruess, a young poet, artist, vagabond disappeared into the Southern Utah desert never to be seen or heard from again. His camp, and later his mules, were found, but no trace of Ruess was ever discovered. Some speculated he fell or drowned in one of the remote desert canyons. Others believe he was murdered by Ute Indians or by residents of Escalante or one of the other remote towns in the region. Ruess' legacy consists of a number of linoleum landscape prints, extensive correspondence with family, and a small collection of journal entries that were published posthumously. Over the years, Ruess has become a legendary Western figure and a poignant symbol for artists, environmentalists, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
        In 2009, the remains of a young man were found on Comb Ridge near Bluff, Utah. Shortly thereafter, David Roberts and National Geographic Adventure Magazine reported that the remains were those of Everett Ruess. Criticism of the claims began immediately and DNA tests were performed. The initial test indicated that it was, in fact, Everett Ruess, though new rounds of testing were done by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology which indicated that there were errors in the first tests and that the remains actually belonged to a Native American male. These results were accepted by the Ruess family, and the mystery of Everett continues to this day. Amidst the ensuing controversy, W.L. Rusho, who is a Ruess scholar, has written and published extensively about Ruess, and edited his journals, was among the most vocal skeptics of the claims. As a follow-up to his role in last year's controversy, Rusho has revised and reissued his earlier work on Everett Ruess under the title The Mystery of Everett Ruess. In addition to the collection of letters and the biographical information included in earlier editions, Rusho has included significantly more material including photographs, artwork, and discussion of the finding and subsequent unfinding of Ruess.